Machine for measuring cloth



Nov. 20, 1956 M. SILVERSTEIN 2,771,251

MACHINE FOR MEASURING CLOTH Filed April 13, 1954 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I G. l. a /9 I5 I I6 5'? T 2 17 er 29 FIG. 2. t i

. INVENTQR. 5 mom; SILVERSTEIN BY 6 32 M Kiw 1 -T l ATTcRA/EXS Nov. 20, 1956 M. SILVERSTEIN 2,771,251

MACHINE FOR MEASURING CLOTH Filed April 13, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent MACHINE FOR MEASURING CLOTH Morris Silverstein, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 13, 1954, Serial No. 422,794

4 Claims. (Cl. 242-68) This invention relates to an improved machine for measuring the length of rolls of cloth.

The cloth to be measured is led from its roll over a substantial portion of the surface of a measuring roller and hence onto a take-up roll. The measuring roller is preferably covered with a rubber-impregnated cloth in order to obtain good frictional contact with the cloth to be measured. As a result of the use of the rubberimpregnated cloth, it is only necessary that the arc of contact between the measuring roller and the cloth be approximately 130.

The measuring roller is coupled by a friction clutch to a counting device which is operative as long as cloth is passing over the measuring roller. Said measuring roller has a peripheral slot, and a pin is pivotally mounted on the frame and urged towards the slot. As long as cloth is passing over the roller, the cloth blocks the slot and prevents the pin from entering same. As soon as the cloth leaves the measuring roller, the pin enters the slot and simultaneously a further pin which is coupled to the first pin engages the clutch mechanism to stop the action of the counting device.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of improved means for regulating the distance between a pair of chucks for supporting a roll, in order to accommodate rolls of cloth of varying width.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved chuck for supporting a fiat spindle for a roll of cloth.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the annexed drawings in which preferred embodiments are disclosed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine, prior to mounting a roll of cloth thereon.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the machine with a roll of cloth mounted thereon and being measured.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a detail of the mechanism for mounting one of the rollsupporting chucks.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 1, also showing a detail of the chuck-mounting mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a detail of the machine showing the cloth-length-measuring mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one face of a modified chuck.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the other face of said modified chuck.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of said modified chuck, showing a roll mounted thereon.

Upon reference to the drawings in detail, and in particular to Figs. 1-5 thereof, it will be noted that the device is supported by a frame 1. A motor housing 2 is mounted on one side of frame 1, near the bottom thereof. Chuck holders 3 and 4 extend laterally inwardly from motor housing 2 and are transversely spaced from each other. Upper and lower sets of lateral rails 5 and 6 2,771,251 Patented Nov. 20, 1956 extend between the sides of frame 1. Each set of rails 5 and 6 carries a respective chuck holder 7 and 8, said chuck holder 7 being laterally alined with chuck holder 4, and said chuck holder 8 being laterally alined with chuck holder 3. Said chuck holders are adapted to have respective chucks 9 mounted thereon for supporting upper and lower rolls of cloth 10 and 11. These rolls 10 and 11 are shown in Fig. 2 but are omitted in Fig. 1.

The support means for chuck holders 7 and 8 will be described in detail below.

Lateral measuring roller 12 is supported by frame 1 above rolls 10 and 11. Said roller 12 is mounted on shaft 13, which is turnably supported by respective:

bearings 14 and 15 in the sides of frame 1. Lateral frame 1 and is in front of measuring roller 12.

Inspection plate 17 is fixed to frame 1 at the top thereof' and is forwardly inclined from top to bottom. Intermediate its top and bottom edges, inspection plate 17 is recessed to provide a location for inspection lamps 18. Laterally extending idler rollers 19 and 20 are respectively turnably mounted on frame 1 just below and just above plate 17. A further laterally extending idler roller 21 is mounted on the rear of frame 1, somewhat below and somewhat behind the top roller 20.

In order to tension material being transferred from roll 10 to roll 11, ratchet Wheel 22 is turnably mounted on frame 1 so as to be turnable about 'a lateral axis. Lever 23 is mounted upon frame 1 intermediate its ends so as to be turnable about a lateral axis. One end of lever 23 serves as a handle end, and the other end of lever 23 has a detent 24 which is adapted to interfit in a selected ratchet space of ratchet 22, so as to lock the latter in a selected turned position. Any suitable spring 25 is connected between lever 23 and frame 1 so as to urge detent 24 into engagement with ratchet 22.

A blank wheel 26 is turnably mounted on the opposite side of frame 1 from ratchet 22, and the two wheels 22 and 26 are connected by a pair of laterally extending, cylindrical shafts 27 and 28, whose axes are spaced from and parallel to each other.

As is shown in Fig. 2, roll 10 may be mounted upon the upper pair of chucks 9, with the cloth 29 being'taken off from the bottom and rear of roll 10. The cloth 29 extends over roller 19, over the outer face of inspection plate 17, over rollers 20 and 21, around change of direction roller 16, over roller 12, in front of and under friction shaft 27, over and behind friction shaft 28, and under and around roll 11. It will be apparent that by varying the setting of detent 24 relative to ratchet 22, it is possible to vary the tension upon the cloth 29. Also, optionally, the cloth 29 may be threaded from roller 10 directly over roller 12, if it is desired to omit the inspection step.

Motor box 2 contains conventional motor mechanisms for driving the chucks for roll 11, so as to unwind the cloth from roll 10 and wind it upon roll 11. Optionally, the direction of movement of cloth 29 may be reversed.

Motor control levers 30 and 31 extend out of the top of box 2. If it is desired to stop the action of the device during the middle of a run, it is possible to depress the conventional foot lever 32, which is pivoted to frame 1 at pivot 33 and which is linked to the motor mechanism by link 34.

Measuring roller The measuring roller 12 and parts associated therewith will now be described in some detail. A detail of these parts is shown in Fig. 5.

Measuring roller 12 comprises a metal inner roller 35 mounted upon shaft 13 as previously described. Inner roller 35 is surrounded by a cylindrical facing layer 36 which may be made of cloth impregnated with rubber, or other suitable frictional material. The layer 36 is divided into a main portion 36a, which extends from one side of the roller almost to the other side, and a short portion 3612, which is laterally spaced from the first layer portion 36a and which extends to said other side of the roller. As a result, the peripheral face of roller 12 is provided with a circumferentially extending groove 37.

The end of shaft 13 which is proximate to facing layer 36b extends laterally outwardly of frame 1 and has a collar 38 fixedly mounted thereon by means of pin 39. Said collar 38 extends laterally outwardly of shaft 13 and has a closed end face 40.

Said collar end face 40 has an integral shaft extension 41 which is co-axial with shaft 13. Counting device 42 is supported outwardly of frame 1 by means of bracket 43 and is located laterally outwardly of and spaced from shaft 41. Counting device 42 has an inwardly extending external drive shaft 44 which is co-axial with shaft 41 and is spaced therefrom. Collar 45 is fixedly mounted on.

the inner end of shaft 44 by means of pin 4-6.

Collar 45 and collar 38 are adapted to be releasably clutch-coupled to each other by means of clutch 47. Said clutch 4-7 includes a hollow, cylindrical body member 48 which has an inturned annular flange 49 at one end thereof. This flange 49 is mounted on shaft 41 and is positioned adjacent collar end wall 40. The other end of body member 48 has diametrically opposed end notches 50, through which an inward extension 51 of collar 45 extends. As a result, clutch 47 and collar 45 turn in unison. In order to aid in maintaining the parts in alinement, the inner end of clutch body 48 has a cup-like extension 52 which fits around the periphery of collar 38.

Coil spring 53 extends around shaft 41 within the inner space of clutch body 48. One end of spring 53 abuts wall 49, and the other end of spring 53 abuts a transverse pin 54 which is mounted in shaft 41 near the outer end thereof. Spring 53 urges clutch body flange 49 into frictional abutment with collar wall 40, so as to cause shaft 44 normally to turn in unison with roller 12 and hence drive the counting mechanism 42. In order to make it possible to render the counting mechanism 42 inactive, clutch body 48 is provided with an integral, transverse sprocket 55. Lateral sleeve 56 is fixed to frame 1 above facing portion 36b and also above clutch 47. Shaft 57 extends turnably through sleeve 56 and beyond both ends thereof. Sleeve 56 is also located rearwardly of roller 12. The inner end of shaft 57 has a forwardly extending finger 58 fixed thereto by means of screw 59. Finger 58 is generally horizontal and has an upwardly convex front end portion 60. The concave lower face of finger portion 60 generally conforms in curvature to the curvature of roller 12 and is positioned in transverse alinement with groove 37. While cloth 29 is riding over measuring roller 12, finger portion 60 rides upon the upper face of cloth 29 and is thereby maintained out of groove 37, finger 58 being sufliciently light in weight so as to avoid deforming of the cloth.

An additional forwardly extending arm 63 is fixed to the outer end of shaft 57. The front end of arm 63 carries an inwardly laterally extending pin 61. The front end of arm 63 is coupled to bracket 43 by means of spring 62 in such a manner as to urge pin 61 downwardly.

Pin 61 is spaced above and out of engagement with sprocket 55 as long as finger portion 60 rides upon the upper face of the cloth 29. However, when the end of cloth 29 leaves roller 12, the action of spring 62 causes finger portion 60 to drop into groove 37, and pin 61 therebymeshes with sprocket 55. As a result, even though roller 12 may continue to turn, sprocket 55 is immediately prevented from turning, thereby preventing shaft 44 from turning in unison with roller 12. As a result of this construction, counting mechanism 42 ceases to register as soonas the bolt of cloth leaves roller 12.

Chuck mechanism As previously stated, upper and lower pairs of chuck holders 3, 8 and 4, 7 are provided. These elements will now be described in detail. These elements are shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

The mechanism supported by the lower set of bars 5 and 6 will be described first. Each bar 5 and 6 is preferably substantially square in cross section and is mounted upon frame 1 so that its diagonals (in cross section) respectively extend vertically and horizontally. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4. Vertical plate 70 carries a plurality of forwardly extending pivot pins 71, upon which wheels 72 are respectively turnably mounted. Preferably, two upper wheels 72 and two lower wheels 72 are provided, the wheels of each set being horizontally alined and laterally spaced. This is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Each wheel 72 is shaped somewhat like a pulley wheel. Each wheel 72 has outer cylindrical portions 72a joined by oppositely tapered frustro-conical sections 7212. The angle between the peripheral walls of the two sections 72b is approximately 90. Further reference may be made to Fig. 4 in order to complete the disclosure as to shape of wheel 72.

Plate 70 is mounted relative to bars 5 and 6 with the lower wheels 72 riding under bar 6 and with the upper wheels 72 riding above bar 5. The two lower faces of bar 6 ride against the respective sections 7217 of the lower wheels 72, and the two upper faces of bar 5 ride against the respective sections 72b of the upper wheels 72. Reference is made to Fig. 4 to complete the disclosure in this regard.

As a result of the above construction, plate 76 is held substantially immovable transversely and longitudinally relative to bars 5 and 6, but may be moved laterally relative thereto as a result of the movability of the wheels 72 upon said bars 5 and 6.

Means are provided for locking plate 70 in any selected lateral position relative to bars 5 and 6. Plate 70 has a forwardly extending boss 73 located between the upper wheels 72. Said boss '73 has a longitudinal bore 74 which opens upon the front end of said boss 73. Boss 73 also has an opening 75 in the lower portion of the peripheral wall thereof. The upper portion of bar 5 is partly located within said opening 75, with the upper tip portion 76 of said bar 5 protruding into bore 74. The upper faces of bar 5 are spaced from the edges of opening 75, to permit the free slidability of plate 76) relative to bars 5 and 6.

A pair of generally cylindrical clamping members 77 and 78 are slidably located within bore 74, with clamp 77 located rearwardly of bar tip 76 and with clamp 78 located forwardly of tip portion 76. Locking handle 79 is located in front of boss 73 and extends partly into the bore 74. Locking handle 79 has a screw-threaded shank extension 30 of reduced diameter which extends turnably through a through-and-through opening 81 of clamp 78 and also extends into a cooperatively threaded through-and-through opening 82 of clamp 77.

The proximate end faces of clamps 77 and 78 are optionally chamfered at 83 in order to present cooperating frictional surfaces with the respective upper faces of bar 5. Reference is made to Fig. 4 to complete the disclosure in this regard. It will be apparent that handle 79 has a shoulder 84 at its junction with shank and that handle 79 may be turned relative to clamp 77 so as to bring shoulder 84 to bear against clamp 78 and to move clamps 77 and 78 towards each other. In this way, bar 5 may be clamped between said clamps 77 and 78 in order to lock plate 70 in the selected position relative to bars 5 and 6. On the other hand, merely by the turning of handle 79 in the opposite direction, clamps 77 and 78 may be loosened to permit lateral movement of plate 70 upon bars 5 and 6.

Laterally extending sleeve 85 is fixed to the upper end of plate 70 and may optionally be integral therewith.

Said sleeve 85 and the parts associated are shown in detail in Fig. 3.

The left or outer end of sleeve 3 is provided with an inturned annular end flange 86. Shaft 87 extends slidably through the opening of flange 86 and into the interior space of sleeve 85. Collar 88 is fixed to shaft 87 outwardly of flange 86. The inner end of shaft 87 is fixed to an enlarged shaft 7 which is co-axial with sleeve 85 and slidable within sleeve 85. Shaft 7 protrudes inwardly of sleeve 85 and has attached thereto an extension shaft 90, by means of a conventional ball bearing assembly 91. Bearing assembly 91 will not be described in detail but it will be apparent from Fig. 3 that shaft 90 is turnable relative to shaft 7.

Spring 92 is located within sleeve 85 and extends between flange 86 and the outer end of shaft 7, so as to urge shaft 7 inwardly.

Any suitable chuck may be mounted upon shaft 90. In the first embodiment, chuck 9 is substantially frustoconical in shape and is secured to shaft 90 by means of conventional set screw 93.

Chuck shaft 8 is adjustably supported from the upper bars 5 and 6 in substantially the same manner as chuck 7 is supported from the lower set of bars 5 and 6. The chief difference is that the upper set of bars 5 and 6 are located in a common horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 2, rather than in the vertical plane of the lower set of bars 5 and 6. In other regards the construction is substantially the same.

Chuck shafts 3 and 4 also respectively support chucks 9 by means of bearing assemblies 91. The upper chucks 9 are tapered toward each other as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the lower chucks 9 are also tapered towards each other.

The spacing between each set of chucks 9 is adjusted in the manner previously described, corresponding to the width of the respective rolls 10 and 11. Each roll 10 and 11 has a conventional hollow cylindrical spindle. It will be apparent that the chuck 9 mounted upon shaft 7 may be pushed slightly away from the other chuck 9 in the lower set, against the action of spring 92, in order to permit insertion of the respective chucks 9 in the respective ends of the bore of the spindle carrying roll 11. Roll 10 may be mounted upon the upper chucks 9 in an entirely similar manner.

Second embodiment of chucks This is shown in Figs. 68. Fig. 8 shows a roll 10a mounted upon a fiat spindle 94.

Chuck 95 has a body portion which is substantially in the form of a disc and which has two diametrically opposed, radial slots 96 located on opposite sides of the center thereof. Chuck 95 has a further radial slot 97 disposed at right angles to the two slots 96 and also located to the side of the center of chuck 95.

A pair of arms 98 are supported adjacent one face of chuck 95, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. One end of each arm 98 is connected to a support member 99 located adjacent the opposite face of chuck 95, by means of a pivot pin 100 which extends slidably through a respective slot 96.

A pair of slide blocks 102 and 101 abut opposite faces of chuck 95. Pin 103 is fixed to block 102 and extends slidably through block 101. Said pin 103 extends slidably through slot 97, block 101 being located on the same side of chuck 95 as arms 98 and pin 103 extending beyond said block 101. Pin 103 extends turnably through suitable holes in the ends of the respective bars 98 which are remote from pivot pins 100. The outer end portion of pin 103 is threaded to accommodate wing nut 104.

It will be apparent that by sliding blocks 101 and 102 along the respective faces of chuck 95, support members 99 may be moved towards or away from each other. Also, wing nut 104 may be turned to tighten bars 98 6 and block 101 against chuck 95 in order to lock support members 99 in selected positions relative to each other.

Each support member 99 has a substantially planar exposed end face 99a; said face 99a has a substantially horseshoe-shaped edge flange 9%, said flange 99b being perpendicular to end face 99a. The openings in the peripheries of the respective flanges 9% are proximate to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Said flanges 99b serve as sockets for plate 94. As clearly shown in Fig. 8, plate 94 may be placed in end abutment with th respective socket faces 99a, and within the respective flanges 99b. It will be clear from the foregoing that the positions of flanges 9% relative to each other may be adjusted in order to frictionally engage the opposite side edges of plate 94.

Chuck 95 has a central perpendicular socket 105, located upon the same face thereof as ar arms 98. Socket 105 is provided with a conventional set screw 106, and it will be apparent that socket 105 may be placed upon shaft and locked in place thereon by means of said screw 106. Therefore, the chucks may be substituted for the chucks 9 of the first embodiment.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that counting device 42 may be of any suitable type for indicating short runs of cloth and for indicating the total length of the cloth. In operation, it is often desirable to stop the machine after measuring off a selected amount of cloth, and this may be done by use of foot pedal 32. Since it is desirable to have counting device 42 indicate the total run of cloth, and since roller 12 may continue to turn through inertia at the conclusion of a run, the provision of groove 37 and finger 58 is extremely important. The addition of these parts, in cooperation with pin 61 and the clutch mechanism, insures the immediate stopping of counting device 42 upon the conclusion of the run of cloth.

The shape of bars 5 and 6 is extremely important, because it insures proper frictional sliding contact of the wheels 72 with the respective bars, and prevents in a simple manner any shifting of plate 70 relative to the bars 5 and 6. At the same time, the square cross sectional shape of bar 5 makes possible the simple clamping action of the clamping members 77 and 78. All that is necessary is that these members be substantially cylindrical, in conformity to the shape of the bore of collar 73, and that they have chamfered surfaces 83 at right angles to each other so as to provide proper frictional contact with the respective faces of the tip of bar 5. While not shown, it will be apparent that any simple means may be optionally provided for preventing clamping members 77 and 78 from turning within the bore of sleeve 73. Optionally, the entire periphery of respective proximate faces of the clamping members may be chamfered.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1. A chuck supporting device comprising a frame, a pair of spaced parallel bars fixed to said frame, a support plate, means attached to said plate for mounting said plate on said bars so that said plate is movable in the direction of length of said bars and is otherwise substantially immovable relative thereto, means mounted on said plate for supporting a chuck, and means for releasably locking said plate to a selected bar in a selected position of said plate relative to said bars, said locking means comprising a collar fixed to one face of said plate and extending approximately transversely thereto, the free end of said collar being open, said collar having a peripheral opening through which a portion of said se-- lccted bar extends, said selected bar being slidable within said opening and having a portion which protrudes into th interior space of said collar, clamp members respectively frictionally, axially, slidably located within the interior space of said collar on opposite sides of said protruding portion of said selected bar, and a locking element located in said collar and protruding out of the open end thereof, said locking element being coupled to said clamping members in such a way that turning of said locking member in one direction about its axis clamps said protruding portion of said selected bar frictionally between said clamping members so as to prevent movement of said plate relative to said bars, and whereby turning of said locking element in the opposite direction about its axis releases said clamping members from said protruding bar portion.

2. A chuck supporting device comprising a frame, a pair of spaced parallel bars fixed to said frame, each said bar being substantially square in cross section, said bars being oriented with respective corresponding diagonal planes thereof located in a common plane and with the other respective diagonal planes thereof parallel to each other, a support plate having a plurality of pulley-like wheels mounted on one face thereof so as to be turnable about respective axes which are transverse to said sup port plate, said wheels being disposed in two parallel rows, said plate being mounted upon said bars with the wheels of said rows respectively abuting the remote faces of said bars and with said plate substantially parallel to the common diagonal plane of said bars, said Wheels frictionally and slidably abutting said bars, said plate being movable in the direction of length of said bars and being otherwise substantially immovable relative thereto, a chuck support shaft, means mounting said chuck support shaft on said plate so that the axis of said shaft is substantially parallel to and spaced from the axes of said bars, and means for releasably locking said plate to a selected bar in a selected position of said plate relative to said bars, said locking means comprising a collar fixed to the aforesaid face of said plate and extending transversely thereto, the free end of said collar being open, said collar having a peripheral opening through which an edge portion of said selected bar extends, the tip of said bar edge portion protruding into the interior bore of said collar, said opening being sized and positioned relative to said selected bar to permit sliding movement of said collar relative to said selected bar in the direction of length of said selected bar, clamping members respectively frictionally and slidably located in the bore of said collar on opposite sides of said bar tip portion, the proximate faces of said clamping members having chamfered edge portions adaptselected bar, and a locking element located in said collar and extending out of the open end thereof, said locking element being coupled to said clamping members in such 0 a way that by turning said locking element in one direction, said tip faces of said selected bar are frictionally clamped between the respective chamfered surfaces of said locking members to prevent movement of said plate relative to said bars, and by turning said locking element in the opposite direction said clamping members may be unclamped from said selected bar.

3. A chuck for a flat spindle, said chuck comprising a plate, a transverse central collar mounted on a first face of said plate for attachment to a chuck-supporting shaft, said plate having first and second radial slots and a third radial slot which is centered relative to the first two slots, a pair of bars, transverse pivot means turnably connecting respective ends of said bars and also extending slidably through said third slot, a pair of socket members,

and transverse support means respectively connecting said socket members to the respective other ends of said bars and also respectively extending through the first and second slots, said socket members being located on the second face of said plate, said socket members respectively cornprising fiat blocks having respective transverse peripheral flanges, said flanges respectively having openings in their opposed faces.

4-. A chuck comprising a plate, a transverse collar mounted on one face of said plate for attachment to a chuck-supporting shaft, 21 pair of bars pivotally connected to each other at respective ends thereof, means mounting i said bars on said plate so that they diverge from their connected ends, so that said connected ends arelimited to movement along said plate on a radial line, and so that the other ends of said bars are limited to movement relative to said plate along a diametrical line, said radial line being perpendicular to said diametrical line, and sockets respectively mounted on said other ends of said bars, said sockets respectively having outer faces which are parallel to said plate, said socket faces respectively having transverse peripheral flanges, the opposed faces of said flanges being respectively cut away.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 230,381 Windle July 20, 1880 1,176,819 Dinsmoor Mar. 28, 1916 1,390,957 Hosch Sept. 13,1921 2,317,141 Gilbert Apr. 20, 1943 2,375,679 Obedin May 8, 1945 

